SUGAR SHORTAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14254, 3 January 1920, Page 5

SUGAR SHORTAGE

WAIKATO SHOPS WITHOUT STOCKS Rationing officer appointed. HAMILTON FIRST CONSIDERATION. For some months past the distribution of sugar to retailors in various parts of the Dominion has been a matter of much concern, and during the few weeks a crisis has been "reached. Waikato has experienced a serious shortage, and distributors have been at their wits end to meet the demands of their customers. In the holiday season a number of stores were positively without stocks, and several large boarding establishments were sugarless, and remain so at the present time. During the last session of Parliament, .Mr J. A. Young, member for Waikato, several times brought to the .notice of the Government the seriousness of the position, which was developing, and urged remedial measures Quite recently he again suggested that the Board of Trade should control the output from the Sugar Company to all - distributors in the Dominion. On December 23rd the Prime Minister informed Mr Young that ho had in- i strutted the Board of Trade to appoint an officer to be associated with the Sugar Company in the distribution of sugar, and that the new arrangement would come into force early in the New Year. A few days ago Mr Young again made clearly to the Prime Minister the | seriousness of the position, and asked i “What is the Board of Trade doing'? j They should have rationed every bag of . sugar leaving the company's stores ‘ weeks ago.” A reply has now been received from Mr Massey to the effect that the Company has advised the Board of Trade that a fair share of sugar will be sent to Hamilton. Mr Camp, a Government official, has been appointed to assist the ! Company in rationing arrangements, and leaves Wellington for Auckland today. He Las been instructed to give j Hamilton his first consideration.